Higher Education Loans Board — manages government scholarships, tuition loans, and upkeep loans for undergraduate and TVET students; proposed for merger into a Tertiary Education Funding Authority.
… The committee, chaired by Vice Chairperson Eve Obara, made the recommendation after holding separate meetings with officials from the State Department for Higher Education, the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) and the Universities Fund during a review of the 2025/2026 Budget I …
… He noted that universities are grappling with a Sh28.9 billion funding gap, forcing many students to rely heavily on Constituency Development Fund bursaries and Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) loans."Students are under immense pressure, especially when examinations approach. …
… Under the Student-Centred Funding Model, students admitted to public universities qualify for both Universities Fund scholarships and HELB loans, while those enrolled in private universities are only eligible for HELB loans. …
… Under the Student-Centred Funding Model, students admitted to public universities qualify for both Universities Fund scholarships and Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) loans, while those joining private universities are only eligible for HELB loans. …
NAIROBI, Kenya July 10-Thousands of students joining universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions can now apply for government financial support after the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) officially opened the 2026/2027 first-time applic …
The Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) has said it does not have the power to write off bad debts accrued from loan defaulters, but they are engaging them to ensure they keep the end of their bargain. …
… The release comes days before the opening of the Higher Education Financing (HEF) Portal, where students joining universities through the 2025 KCSE cohort will apply for scholarships and Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) loans. …
Gov't releases Ksh.4.2B in university scholarships for 400,000 students By Benjamin Muriuki June 26, 2026 08:56 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter University students at the Higher Education Loans Board office …
The Ministry of Education is defending a proposed Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill that would ring-fence Ksh.100 billion in annual government grants for higher education, combining existing allocations to help achieve 100 per cent transition to institutions of higher learning. The ministry projects student numbers in higher education will double from 1.2 million to 2.4 million by 2030/2031, requiring total funding of Ksh.230 billion to be drawn from government grants, capital market borrowing, parent savings, student loan repayments and soft loans.
The Ministry of Education is defending a proposed Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill that would ring-fence Ksh.100 billion in annual government grants for higher education, combining existing allocations to help achieve 100 per cent transition to institutions of higher learning. The ministry projects student numbers in higher education will double from 1.2 million to 2.4 million by 2030/2031, requiring total funding of Ksh.230 billion to be drawn from government grants, capital market borrowing, parent savings, student loan repayments and soft loans.
The National Assembly's Committee on Education has begun scrutinizing four proposed Bills aimed at implementing recommendations from the Presidential Working Party on Education Reform. The key legislation includes the Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill, which would merge tertiary education financing bodies and introduce a means-testing system for student support based on household income and financial need.
The National Assembly's Departmental Committee on Education is reviewing four education reform Bills aimed at restructuring student funding and strengthening governance in learning institutions. A key proposal is the Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill, which seeks to merge the Higher Education Loans Board, Universities Fund Board, and TVET Funding Board into a single Tertiary Education Funding Authority.
Kenyan social media users have launched a campaign on X documenting President William Ruto's unfulfilled public promises spanning years of campaign trails, church services, and official addresses, from infrastructure projects to socio-economic reforms and political appointments.
President William Ruto announced that changes to the university funding model are underway to fully fund all students who qualify for higher education. Meanwhile, students applying for funding through the existing system continue to face technical difficulties accessing KUCCPS and HELB portals, with some unable to revise their course choices.
President William Ruto reaffirmed the Government's commitment to making education and technology central to Kenya's transformation, noting the country's strong performance at the 2026 Global Huawei ICT Competition demonstrates Kenya is emerging as Africa's technology hub. Kenya's Cloud Track Team won the Grand Prize, marking the country's first win since joining the competition in 2019.
President William Ruto reaffirmed his commitment to providing full government funding for every university student, saying the government is refining its funding model to ensure access to higher education regardless of financial background. He acknowledged public concerns about how the government will finance the plan, arguing that investing in education is essential for Kenya's development.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has advertised a vacancy for Commission Secretary and Chief Executive Officer on a four-year renewable contract. Applicants must be Kenyan citizens with a university degree and at least five years of management experience, preferably in electoral matters, finance, governance, public administration, law or political science.
President Ruto's Student-Centred Funding Model, introduced in September 2023 to address underfunding at public universities, is now facing chronic funding deficits as billions of shillings for scholarships, loans, and capitation remain unfunded. The government is preparing another overhaul of university financing after successive funding formulas have all been underfunded.
President William Ruto has announced a new plan to provide full government funding to every student admitted to a public university or college regardless of financial background. The proposal, presented as amendments before Parliament, marks the fourth shift in university financing under his administration in less than four years, following the Differentiated Unit Cost model and variations of the Student-Centred Funding Model.
Kenya's National Assembly Education Committee has called for coordinated action between Parliament, the National Treasury, and the Ministry of Education to address persistent funding challenges in the higher education sector, citing a mismatch between the Higher Education Funding Model framework and actual budget allocations.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba told Parliament that persistent delays in funding to schools, TVET institutions and universities stem from inadequate budget allocations and delayed releases by the National Treasury, rather than the Ministry withholding funds. He said the ministry submits funding requests on time and disburses funds immediately after receiving them, but the gap between the education sector's financial requirements and allocated resources is the core challenge.
The Ministry of Education has acknowledged that persistent delays in capitation disbursements and inadequate budget allocations from the National Treasury are pushing public universities, TVET institutions, and teacher training colleges into financial distress, prompting Parliament to demand urgent reforms.
The Universities Fund has urged 202,133 students placed in public universities for 2026/2027 to apply for government scholarships through the Higher Education Financing portal before the September 6 deadline. The Government has allocated KSh30.8 billion to the Universities Fund for scholarships in 2026/2027, up from KSh18.4 billion in the previous financial year.
The government has urged 2025 KCSE candidates placed in public universities to apply for scholarships under the Student-Centred Funding Model, with Ksh.30.8 billion allocated to support 202,133 students for the 2026/2027 academic year. Applications are open through the Higher Education Financing Portal until September 6.
The Higher Education Loans Board has opened the 2026/2027 application window for first-time undergraduate and TVET students to apply for government scholarships, tuition loans, and upkeep loans through the Higher Education Financing portal. Eligible applicants must have an official admission letter and can apply online before the start of the new academic year.
At Kenya Music Festival regional competitions, learners use music, poetry, dance and elocution to advocate for online safety, data protection, responsible internet use, and other social issues. Performances emphasized the dangers of digital platform misuse, including misinformation and cyberbullying, urging peers to verify information before sharing.
The Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) told Parliament it does not have the power to write off bad debts, but is engaging defaulters to ensure repayment. The board cited 563,949 matured accounts belonging to graduates who have not yet secured gainful employment or sustainable income to begin loan repayment.
The Universities Fund has released Sh4.2 billion in scholarships to public universities to support over 400,000 continuing undergraduate students under the Student-Centred Funding Model, raising the 2025/2026 financial year allocation from the National Treasury to Sh18.4 billion. The funds are meant to cover tuition fees for students who enrolled in universities in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The government has released Ksh.4.2 billion in scholarships to public universities to support more than 400,000 continuing undergraduate students under the Student-Centred Funding Model, bringing the total 2025/2026 allocation to Ksh.18.4 billion.
President William Ruto has increased the duty-free allowance for returning travellers from Ksh.39,000 to Ksh.260,000 when assenting to the Finance Bill 2026, aiming to address concerns from Kenyans living and working abroad and other visitors.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi proposed Ksh.784.5 billion for education in the 2026/2027 national budget, representing 26.4 per cent of total ministerial spending, as schools across the country face delayed capitation and widespread unrest affecting more than 200 learning institutions.
The Treasury Cabinet Secretary announced the government will spend Sh784.5 billion on education in the 2026/27 financial year, with Sh424 billion for teachers' salaries, dismissing claims of budget cuts. Education accounts for 26.5 per cent of the ministerial budget, up from 24.5 per cent in 2021/22, representing a rise of nearly 49 per cent from Sh526 billion in 2021/22.
The National Treasury has proposed Sh784.5 billion for education in the 2026/27 budget, the largest single-sector allocation, distributed across basic education, universities, technical training, and teacher recruitment. The Teachers Service Commission receives the largest share at Sh424.3 billion, followed by higher education at Sh163.9 billion.
The Ministry of Education requested Ksh.770 billion for the 2026/2027 financial year but the National Assembly's Budget and Appropriations Committee allocated Ksh.668.3 billion, leaving a deficit of Ksh.102 billion that could hinder development projects and worsen capitation funding challenges. Specific allocations fall short for free primary education (Ksh.7 billion allocated versus Ksh.15.6 billion requested) and the school feeding programme targeting 2.8 million learners.
The Social Health Authority has appointed Winfred Nduku Nthiani as Assistant Director for Corporate Communication following a competitive recruitment process that attracted 100 applicants and narrowed to seven shortlisted candidates interviewed on Wednesday.
A Standard opinion piece compares Kenya's roads to a wildlife documentary where small car owners face hazardous overtaking by truck drivers who behave recklessly with bright lights and aggressive maneuvers, leaving smaller vehicles vulnerable.
Kenya's higher education sector has expanded enrollment to approximately 670,000 students across public and private universities while lowering fees by 15–40% under a revised funding model, but faces a Sh156.7 billion shortfall in State Department allocations and Sh85.28 billion in pending bills at public universities.